Bylaw proposed to address parking woes

Thursday

Selectmen Mike Quinlivan has proposed a bylaw to address the issue of parking along the road leading to Illig Pond and the soccer fields.

Last week, all five members of the Recreation Commission resigned after the selectmen reopened the access road through the end of soccer season.

At the October 9 meeting Quinlivan said, "The problem isn't parking, it's people parking illegally," he said. "There is no way you can get an emergency vehicle up there, and the Recreation Commission doesn't have the authority to close the road. I think parks should be open. The more we limit access, the worse this is going to get."

His proposed bylaw would address the issue of emergency vehicle access.

The bylaw would include the following measures:

• Allow the fire chief to establish fire lanes as a means of access for fire apparatus to any building and may require the owner of such property to post "No Parking" signs and appropriate pavement markings.

• No person shall block or obstruct a private way to prevent fire apparatus from responding (this would include parked vehicles),

• It shall be unlawful to obstruct or park a vehicle in a fire lane.

• Any person refusing to post a sign or pavement marking may be fined up to $300 per day,

• The chief of police or any member of his department would have authority to remove unattended vehicles from a fire lane.

"The police chief has stated that there is a safety issue, but he cannot close the road. This bylaw would solve that problem," Quinlivan said Monday.

In the meantime, selectmen are seeking interested candidates to fill the Recreation Commission.

Opening the road was successful, according to Blanchard.

"The most immediate complaint of cars parking on each side seems to have been addressed with the caution tape and signs. I think if permanent signs are placed, the solution could be at hand," Blanchard said.

"Soccer season is over, so the issue will die down for now, but the permanent solution is not at hand yet. We'll be back next fall if we don't find a permanent solution to this problem," selectmen Fred Goodrich noted.

With time between now and baseball season to work something out, Chairman Jack Malone wants to get all parties together for a discussion to work something out.

Quinlivan believes the bylaw is the answer. It is currently in the hands of several local officials and may appear on the annual town meeting warrant in May.